Providing helpful, compassionate care is the single best way to get more referrals from your clientele. But if that isn’t pushing your business as far as you’d like, you can take some deliberate steps to up your home care agency’s chances of getting a good referral.

We typically don’t think of seniors as users of cutting-edge mobile apps, but according to research, more seniors use smartphones than ever before. And as the rest of us age, this number will only increase. With that in mind, we’ve collected our thirteen favorite mobile apps that can help keep your aging relatives social, safe, and happy.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and spring is on its way. We all know that sunshine, exercise, and fresh air can do wonders for our health, fighting depression, mental degeneration, and all types of chronic disease. Seniors in particular should take advantage of these benefits and make good use of the warm weather while it’s here.

Providing helpful, compassionate care is the single best way to get more referrals from your clientele. But if that isn’t pushing your business as far as you’d like, you can take some deliberate steps to up your home care agency’s chances of getting a good referral.

We typically don’t think of seniors as users of cutting-edge mobile apps, but according to research, more seniors use smartphones than ever before. And as the rest of us age, this number will only increase. With that in mind, we’ve collected our thirteen favorite mobile apps that can help keep your aging relatives social, safe, and happy.

So, you’ve decided to enlist an in-home care agency to help your relative manage day-to-day tasks. If your loved one has been struggling, this is a great decision. But as the gatekeeper between the agency and your relative, it’s your job to make the transition easier and set the home care agency and their managed caregiver up for success. This generally boils down to effective communication.

Begin By Setting Clear Expectations

Sit down with the agency and discuss the type of care that’s needed from the agency caregiver. Will the caregiver be expected to be on call overnight? How many errands and outside tasks does your relative need done each week? And what type of medical considerations does your relative have that may affect the caregiver’s ability to complete these tasks? Line out each of these issues ahead of time so there are no surprises.

Create a “Personality Diagnosis”

Nobody knows your relative better than you. If your loved one is struggling with common issues like dementia or other types of mental degeneration, you’ll be well aware of how erratic their moods can be. Let the in-home care agency know about these issues ahead of time by creating a personality diagnosis for them:

· Pertinent medical issues;

· Day-to-day moods;

· History of depression, aggression, or confusion;

· Common problems that may trigger mood swings.

You won’t be able to predict everything, but this type of rundown can be a great way to prepare the agency and agency caregiver on what to expect.

Keep Information Readily Available

Naturally, you’ll want to keep all necessary information available to the agency so that they can communicate with the managed caregiver:

· List and schedule for medications;

· Standard and emergency contact numbers;

· List of food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances;

· Medical providers and nearby clinics;

· Preferences for food or activities;

· Unique challenges or issues affecting your loved one.

Particularly in the early stages of your in-home agency and caregiver relationship, these resources will help get the agency and managed caregiver familiar with your relative and ease the transition for both sides.

Be Up Front About Your Concerns

You’re having some trouble caring for your relative, and that’s okay. It’s the whole reason you’re hiring in-home help, after all. But make sure you let the in-home care agency know about these concerns ahead of time—even if the concerns are about the caregiver him/herself!

Your goal is to make the transition as easy as possible for both your relative and the in-home care agency, a process that goes down much more smoothly when everyone is direct and asks questions as needed.

Document Everything

When working with in-home care agencies, it’s important to document everything that happens. Of course, this means documenting records of medication intake and schedules for when your agency caregiver is on call, but it also means documenting episodes of confusion, daily food intake, medical concerns from day-to-day, and any other information that’s out of the ordinary.

Above All, Listen!

Don’t forget to listen to the feedback your in-home care agency caregiver provides! This relationship should be a two-way street where you both feel comfortable sharing issues. After some time, you’ll likely find your agency caregiver has identified particular problems or day-to-day challenges that you didn’t anticipate.

Work with the agency and caregiver on these problems and try to improve your relationship every day. This is the best way to improve the quality of care for your loved one—and to ensure that you, your relative, and the in-home care agency and caregiver are all happy with your new arrangement.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and spring is on its way. We all know that sunshine, exercise, and fresh air can do wonders for our health, fighting depression, mental degeneration, and all types of chronic disease. Seniors in particular should take advantage of these benefits and make good use of the warm weather while it’s here.

Deciding to hire a home care agency is the first step toward developing a long-term relationship of trust with an organization. As such, those beginning the selection process should be aware of the steps needed to make sure the agency can provide the level of care you need while staying in your budget.